I was diagnosed with Dengue Fever.

[Sheryl]

I also think it is dengue, a mild case and that you are getting over it. A mentioned, the itching is a sign of entering the convalescent phase. You may also notice a fine pink rash especially on your palms.

If it were me I would simply stay home unless the fever recurred, and then in say a week or two get a repeat CBC to make sure the WBC is coming back up. While the low WBC is consistent with dengue there is a remote possibility that it is something more serious causing bone marrow depression. Unlikely (and wouldn't explain the itching) but just to be safe, do recheck the count.

In district hospitals like this you are usually dealing with doctors fresh out of medical school (and from the sounds of the second one, possibly at the bottom of her class to boot!).

If the fever does recur to a significant extent go to Khon Kaen. Likewise if you develop any unusual bruising or bleeding.

[Costas2008]

I also think it is dengue, a mild case and that you are getting over it. A mentioned, the itching is a sign of entering the convalescent phase. You may also notice a fine pink rash especially on your palms.

If it were me I would simply stay home unless the fever recurred, and then in say a week or two get a repeat CBC to make sure the WBC is coming back up. While the low WBC is consistent with dengue there is a remote possibility that it is something more serious causing bone marrow depression. Unlikely (and wouldn't explain the itching) but just to be safe, do recheck the count.

In district hospitals like this you are usually dealing with doctors fresh out of medical school (and from the sounds of the second one, possibly at the bottom of her class to boot!).

If the fever does recur to a significant extent go to Khon Kaen. Likewise if you develop any unusual bruising or bleeding.

Sheryl you are right, she just qualified.

But please tell me should I stop the antibiotic?

Can it do more harm than good to me?

Please take me out of my confusion.

[Sheryl]

There is no indication at all for antibiotics in your case.

Discontinuing antibiotics after starting them without completing a full course can contribute to antibiotic resistance but if I understand correctly you just started it today so I would stop.

[Costas2008]

There is no indication at all for antibiotics in your case.

Discontinuing antibiotics after starting them without completing a full course can contribute to antibiotic resistance but if I understand correctly you just started it today so I would stop.

Thank you very much Sheryl,

Just asked my wife to take the syringe out of my hand.

She left it there so she doesn't have to poke me again tomorrow for the second dose.

And I'm very glad I came on TVF to post my problem.

Edited September 15, 2014 by Costas2008

[balo]

Doctors working at hospitals in Thailand think that antibiotics will solve anything , I had a slight fever and some sorts of flu (dengue ?) and the first thing they suggested was to put a needle in me and start giving antibiotics for 30 minutes.

I could have saved myself and just staying home for a few days and wait for the flu to stop. but at least the hospital earned around 4000 baht on my visit . This would never had happened in my home country . Thais really love antibiotics and think its' some sort of miracle cure for any disease.

And a more serious thing that happened to me , a few years ago at the famous Samitivej hospital in Bangkok , I was sent to a well known urologist about pain in my testicle and he gave me antibiotics and painkillers , he was sure it was some sort of bacterial infection. He never tried to do ultrasound and was not worried that my pain had been there a long time .

But it was testis cancer, the first thing my doctor in Norway did was to do a ultrasound of my testicles and the week after they removed one of them, and it was a success story after that.

If I had stayed in Thailand during this time who knows what would have happened....

Edited September 15, 2014 by balo

[beau thai]

From this thread seems that different types of dengue affect different folk in different ways. I didnt have joint ache but a temp of +40c and a permanent feeling of seasickness, and total lethargy. It was a struggle to take fluids other than enough to swallow paracetamol to help bring temp down. Mostly slept for 2 weeks and became increasingly dehydrated, almost as though the system is shutting down. Doc advised taking dehydration salts and as much fluid as I could to;lerate- and hang on to. Eventually started back on clear soup in small quantity and started to feel better slowly. Lacked energy for a few weeks after, then fine ever since.

So I hope you can work through it Costas, and do avoid getting dehydrated as I was stupid enough to. But if you have ever been seasick you will understand how easy it is to get dehydrated -and how unpleasant it is to fight it!

But in a few weeks it will be behind you hopefully.....

[wilcopops]

Does not really sound like Dengue because you are not reporting JOINT PAIN. What I had diagnosed at Bumrungrad as dengue is a virus, incurable, untreatable, and possibly with self-generating reoccurrences without otherwise new exposure.

I can not imagine having Dengue and not having at least minor joint pain. My joint pain was severe and told me why it is called "break bone fever" because you feel your joints are broken the pain is so bad. The pain is unremitting, not responsive to any drug or home remedy, and makes sleeping difficult. The pain lasts three to five days.

Some claim the later exposures are not so severe; some claim, along with doctors, that the virus can stay in your body until you die and pop up at any time with less severe symptoms.

Believe me, if you have BREAK BONE FEVER, you will know it by that pain ! Get well soon.

Point of order: Breakbone fever is not Dengue but instead Chikungunya fever which is the one where you want to kill yourself because of the excruciating joint pain. Mostly occurring in the wrists. Although they are different, they are actually carried by the same mosquito Aedes aegypti. Problem with those little barstewards they are daytime feeders both indoors and out.

I personally have had Dengue twice and Chikungunya once. I could handle the Dengue without too many real problems except the uncontrollable shaking of course. I thought I got the Dengue for the third time until the onset of the joint pain. It comes after the fever has subsided. I had big problems with my wrist joints for six months afterwards.

Den

Breakbone is Dengue.....but in the days when Dengue wasn't identified properly neither was Chikungunya, the name goes back to the 18th century I believe. As I said diagnosis is still a problem if not teated correctly.

dengue can be so mild it goes unnoticed, or it can be very painful - "break bone" - or worse haemorrhagic

Edited September 15, 2014 by wilcopops

[iamariva1957]

This is offered only as a guide. You should see a doctor and get that blood test!

Doctors can diagnose dengue infection with a blood test to check for the virus or antibodies to it. If you become sick after traveling to a tropical area, let your doctor know. This will allow your doctor to evaluate the possibility that your symptoms were caused by a dengue infection.

Sometimes symptoms are mild and can be mistaken for those of the flu or another viral infection. Symptoms, usually begin four to six days after infection and last for up to 10 days, may include

• Sudden, high fever.
• Severe headaches.
• Pain behind the eyes.
• Severe joint and muscle pain.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Skin rash, which appears three to four days after the onset of fever.
• Mild bleeding (such a nose bleed, bleeding gums, or easy bruising).

There is no specific medicine to treat a Dengue infection. If you think you may have Dengue fever, you should use pain relievers with acetaminophen and avoid medicines with aspirin, which could worsen bleeding. You should also rest, drink plenty of fluids, and see your doctor. If you start to feel worse in the first 24 hours after your fever goes down, you should get to a hospital immediately to be checked for complications.

[wilcopops]

From this thread seems that different types of dengue affect different folk in different ways. I didnt have joint ache but a temp of +40c and a permanent feeling of seasickness, and total lethargy. It was a struggle to take fluids other than enough to swallow paracetamol to help bring temp down. Mostly slept for 2 weeks and became increasingly dehydrated, almost as though the system is shutting down. Doc advised taking dehydration salts and as much fluid as I could to;lerate- and hang on to. Eventually started back on clear soup in small quantity and started to feel better slowly. Lacked energy for a few weeks after, then fine ever since.

So I hope you can work through it Costas, and do avoid getting dehydrated as I was stupid enough to. But if you have ever been seasick you will understand how easy it is to get dehydrated -and how unpleasant it is to fight it!

But in a few weeks it will be behind you hopefully.....

There are 4 strains of the virus - the disease they cause is the same. The 4 strains make it difficult to come up with a vaccine as you can be immune to one but not another.

The differing diagnosis is typical of a Thai healthcare establishment......the diagnoses of some Doctors can be totally irrational......one of them is wrong! Which one I wouldn't be able to say!

[wilcopops]

He told you to go home. Wow. When i had dengue fever and went to see the doc at the hospital, they wouldn't let me go home. Even after 4 days there(i insisted on a private room so i could masturbate)they told me i had to stay more.

I had to explain it to them that i was going to stay as long as i wanted to.

There is a lot coming out about the Thai healthcare system here.....4 days in a hospital with an illness that is not actually treble with anything more than water and the occasional paracetamol............. if the patient shows signs of bleeding under the skin then sone action may be required to carry the patient through that, bur otherwise hospitalisation isn't really needed......however at HOW MUCH per night? - It's money for old rope!

[maynard420]

I have had Dengue fever once and if you have it you will know, your fever is going to be well over a 100, and walking is an impossible task, I ended up getting pneumonia from it since it was when we had a serious cold streak 2 years back, 12 days in ICU and 22 in recovery, it was at BKK PAT HOSP. they said if you think you have it, go check yourself in since you can go downhill really quick and if you are staying alone that is dangerous.

conclusion: my brotha, if the doc told you to come back again for more blood test, you need to get a second opinion, Dingu is a scary fever, and getting it again could lead to death since your body is bring rocked hard from this first infection, your body might not make it a second time.

all this is from experience having it and what the doctors told me, I had 4 specialist hovering over me 3-5 times a day, they where worried.

paracetamol will help a little bit, but I Suggest Tramadol 100mg with a paracetamol 500mg for fever and pain, with Dengu you will have cramping all over, I had to literally crawl to the bathroom the first day I had it, and I am 37'and very healthy, no drinking or smoking.

I sincerely hope you get better, I know the pain and do not wish it upon anyone.

this is my first post, I just wanted to give you the best information from my experience, I am not knocking anyone else experience.

[thejcb]

He told you to go home. Wow. When i had dengue fever and went to see the doc at the hospital, they wouldn't let me go home. Even after 4 days there(i insisted on a private room so i could masturbate)they told me i had to stay more.

I had to explain it to them that i was going to stay as long as i wanted to.

You tosser !

Edited September 15, 2014 by thejcb

[hgma]

Lao 'rural' suggestion

Papaya leaves (fresh)

press the leaves like you press an orange for juice

extract the juice from the papaya leave

3 teaspoon's daily

This remedy was offered by a Dutchman in Luang Prabang on line, and i tested the effect by administering the juice to a Lao teen girl (relative)administered in hospital with high fever and dengue diagnosed.

her temperature dropped dramaticly within 24 hours and she left the hospital 1 day later.

true story.

[frozin1]

As to a previously noted 'Point of order' Breakbone fever is (classically) dengue fever. Chikungunya also is characterized by severe joint pains but does not have the same colloquial term.

There are four different dengue subtypes creatively named 1, 2, 3, and 4. Infection with one subtype does not confer immunity to any of the other subtypes.

First infection is usually a miserable event but it would be unusual to have a more severe expression of the disease.

Subsequent infections with a different subtype run a much higher risk of more severe illness such as Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever. This might be a situation in which you should seek medical advise.

F1

[Estrada]

Issangeorge, on 15 Sept 2014 - 14:36, said:

I didn't think antibiotics would do anything for viral infections.

You're right, there is, so far, no known cure for ANY viral infection, you either live or die. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengue_fever see in particular "Management." Antibiotics are only for bacterial infection.

Not true. There are a number of anti-viral drugs that work for specific viral infections. There are also a number of new drugs in the clinical trial stages which are designed to cure most viral infections. It is these drugs that are now being used to cure Ebola. It may be another 4 years before the drugs complete their human trials and receive FDA approval, meanwhile Ebola patients are becoming the Human Guinea Pigs.

[Estrada]

He told you to go home. Wow. When i had dengue fever and went to see the doc at the hospital, they wouldn't let me go home. Even after 4 days there(i insisted on a private room so i could masturbate)they told me i had to stay more.

I had to explain it to them that i was going to stay as long as i wanted to.

You tosser !

He likes the Lady Boy Nurses.

[carter1882]

One thing i would suggest is do not go for advice on internet forums like this. Even people who are qualified should know better than to diagnose without knowing the full facts and seeing the patient. Beware mis-diagnosis, mis-information and mis-ery.

[Strangebrew]

Costas no worries drink couple quarts of badger milk you will be ok. just rest but if you get rid of water around your place and fog or have your place fogged to get rid of the critters that carry it then no problem.

[Strangebrew]

next time best not to get you can do that by eating raw garlic daily or galic bread works too once in system good mosquito's tend to stay away. believe it works never get bitten if really a lot out rub garlic oil on me.

[Albertosez]

I had Dengue last year and it took me over 4 months to feel " normal " again. At its' worse, it was very painful to move, sit down and standup. Fever with high temperature and then feeling shiveringly cold, bulging eye sockets with migraine like headaches. After maybe 4 weeks, I got very itchy rashes which were very uncomfortable. Once the main symptoms had passed, I couldn't sit at a desk and work through emails etc. for more than 2 hours - without returning to bed and sleeping for an hour or so.'this cycle continued for at least another month.

I also consulted a Doctor Friend ( GP ) of mine in UK and also sent him all my blood tests results - just for a 2nd opinion. He warned me to expect to feel fairly weak for up to 6 months !! It didn't quite take me that long, but definitely over 4 months to stop sleeping during the day time - which I would never, ever normally do !

They say that a 2nd bout of Dengue can actually be more complex and serious than the 1st round because the 1st round actually can intensify the symptoms of any subsequent bouts of Dengue. I had very similar symptoms ( at the front end ) not so long ago, but they passed within about 10 days and have not had any prolonged effect like last time. However, the fever, bulging eyes, headaches and itching were there- albeit for 10 days. There are obviously different scales to which one can be affected and maybe the 2nd round symptoms were not Dengue ?? The1st round definitely was and it was a very uncomfortable 4 x month period !!

Good luck- and I wish you a speedy recovery - bit don't think that when the fevers and aches have passed that you are over it - I suffered for a further 3 months of high fatigue !

[wilcopops]

I had Dengue last year and it took me over 4 months to feel " normal " again. At its' worse, it was very painful to move, sit down and standup. Fever with high temperature and then feeling shiveringly cold, bulging eye sockets with migraine like headaches. After maybe 4 weeks, I got very itchy rashes which were very uncomfortable. Once the main symptoms had passed, I couldn't sit at a desk and work through emails etc. for more than 2 hours - without returning to bed and sleeping for an hour or so.'this cycle continued for at least another month.

I also consulted a Doctor Friend ( GP ) of mine in UK and also sent him all my blood tests results - just for a 2nd opinion. He warned me to expect to feel fairly weak for up to 6 months !! It didn't quite take me that long, but definitely over 4 months to stop sleeping during the day time - which I would never, ever normally do !

They say that a 2nd bout of Dengue can actually be more complex and serious than the 1st round because the 1st round actually can intensify the symptoms of any subsequent bouts of Dengue. I had very similar symptoms ( at the front end ) not so long ago, but they passed within about 10 days and have not had any prolonged effect like last time. However, the fever, bulging eyes, headaches and itching were there- albeit for 10 days. There are obviously different scales to which one can be affected and maybe the 2nd round symptoms were not Dengue ?? The1st round definitely was and it was a very uncomfortable 4 x month period !!

Good luck- and I wish you a speedy recovery - bit don't think that when the fevers and aches have passed that you are over it - I suffered for a further 3 months of high fatigue !

Two things.

1 - the symptoms of Dengue are NOT unique to Dengue....these symptoms can very immensely - this is why blood tests are so important.

2 - All viral illnesses can have a lingering post viral effect....this can include lethargy and possibly worst of all serious depression.

none of this is the exclusive domain of Dengue.

[wilcopops]

next time best not to get you can do that by eating raw garlic daily or galic bread works too once in system good mosquito's tend to stay away. believe it works never get bitten if really a lot out rub garlic oil on me.

absolute nonsense!

(and very unpleasant!)

Edited September 16, 2014 by wilcopops

[Greg Nixon]

I found that diet helped me significantly. The juice from the leaves of a Papaya tree did make me feel considerably better right away. I made a small bottle ( jam jar ) and had a tablespoon or two first thing in the AM. This is a local cure. I also had lots of cashews - unsalted available at Makro. I also found tomatoes and toast were good. I googled " Diet for Dengue Fever" and found lots of advice.

I seemed to get a second infection some weeks later and again the diet worked. One can only be infected 4 times because one develops an immunity from each of the 4 viruses after having them.

[Greg Nixon]

Yes 1 garlic clove/ day was part of the diet. I ate it raw and by itself. I avoided foods that were not on the diet.

[manarak]

to all the posters who said that there is no medicine against viruses, I would like to show the following list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_antiviral_drugs

I guess the IV drip OP got was an antiviral and not an antibiotic.

[manarak]

I also think it is dengue, a mild case and that you are getting over it. A mentioned, the itching is a sign of entering the convalescent phase. You may also notice a fine pink rash especially on your palms.

If it were me I would simply stay home unless the fever recurred, and then in say a week or two get a repeat CBC to make sure the WBC is coming back up. While the low WBC is consistent with dengue there is a remote possibility that it is something more serious causing bone marrow depression. Unlikely (and wouldn't explain the itching) but just to be safe, do recheck the count.

In district hospitals like this you are usually dealing with doctors fresh out of medical school (and from the sounds of the second one, possibly at the bottom of her class to boot!).

If the fever does recur to a significant extent go to Khon Kaen. Likewise if you develop any unusual bruising or bleeding.

Sheryl you are right, she just qualified.

But please tell me should I stop the antibiotic?

Can it do more harm than good to me?

Please take me out of my confusion.

are you sure you got an antibiotic and not an antiviral ?

[Sheryl]

No Thai doctor would prerscribe an IV antiviral to be used at home. Antivirals are fairly serious drugs.

[Costas2008]

No Thai doctor would prerscribe an IV antiviral to be used at home. Antivirals are fairly serious drugs.

I just googled UTO CEFTRIAXONE, IV treatment I got and it comes out to be some kind of urinary treatment that I have no problems whatsoever.

http://www.rxlist.com/rocephin-drug/indications-dosage.htm

I was also given DOXYCYCLINE 100Mg to be taken twice a day.

Stopped both anyway.

Temperature back to normal.

Hands have gone pink as you said Sheryl.

Itching is easing down.

Still drinking lots of water........can I have a beer?

Thank you Sheryl, thank you all again.

[CindyB]

Is it correct which Dengue you shouldn't eat Aspirin?

No asprin, no ibuprofen (Neurofen). Only paracetamol (Tylenol).

Two years ago had a very bad case: dengue shock syndrome. While awaiting my blood test on the morning of day 3, blood pressure dropped to 62/47, must have gone lower because I wasn't blacking out then, and then about 30 minutes later, just as they were getting me hooked up to an IV in the ER, nearly passed out (I'm not afraid of needles). Was in hospital for 3 days at Mission in Phuket, but only about 20,000 baht to get out, all-inclusive, not 120,000. Took me 5 weeks to get back any energy. Let's just say I had an exceptionally bad case, not too many like it. One key is you must keep hydrated to prevent organ failure. I've known this for decades, and set the alarm on my phone for every 2 hours to drink at least 1/2 liter of water or juice. Had no appetite. You're probably over the worst of it now, but maybe someone else will learn from my experience.

[manarak]

No Thai doctor would prerscribe an IV antiviral to be used at home. Antivirals are fairly serious drugs.

ah, I missed the part about home medication !